Chicken Poxs

[LouLamb]

A boy in my class was off today because he has chicken poxs. Last time i was in contact with him was thursday. Is there any chance i could get it ? I never actually had chicken poxs as a child either. Just wanna be on the safe side.

[Crusee]

Hi LouLamb .

I believe that once the spots have come out they are not infectious any longer its the 10 days prior to that when they are.

So there is a good chance you may have been exposed to it.

I am not 100 per cent certain of this fact so hopefully someone can correct me if I am wrong.

I never had chicken pox as a child and got it when I was 40.

I did feel quite ropey for a couple of days before I found out what was wrong with me .I Was away on holidays at the time and thought I had spent a bit too much time in the sun,and then the itchy spots appeared which drove me scatty but I began to feel a lot better then.

I dont know what to advise as if you have picked it up I dont think theres not much you can do to avoid it now but just be ready with calamine lotion to dab on the itchy bits.

Hope you are ok.

Crusee

XX

[PMRpro]

It is usually thought to be the 48 hours immediately before the spots start that a person is most infectious with CP and then once they appear the risk falls off until all the spots are crusted over and then they are no longer infectious. So you should be OK. Unless other children in the class are hatching it - which is fairly likely.

If you DO develop spots you will need to go straight to the GP and get antiviral medication. There is no point before they appear as that doesn't work as a preventative. Some people with really compromised immune systems might be given immunoglobulin injections as a preventative but I doubt you would be thought to be that much at risk. But to be on the safe side you could ring your doctor and ask.

The incubation period is 14 to 21 days.

[onamission]

I had chicken pox as a child at the age of 23 had a blood transfusion some years later doing a shift on children's ward I was in contact with chicken pox and I got it check with your GP.

My daughter lives in Newcastle and it spreading like wild fire

[jvspeed]

Hi

I got chickenpox as a child and due to taking methotrexate I caught it again off my granddaughter last year.